Fluid valve



L. DE FLOREZ July 5, 1938.

FLUID VALVE Filed March 21, 1936 mm N @MR EF o m n n WX .wyw/ MEM Patented July 5, .1938

UNITEDl STATES PATENT oFFlcE FLUID VALVE Luis de Florez, Pomfret, Conn.

Application March 21, 1936, Serial No. '70,086

2 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for occasioning directional changes in a `flowing stream of uid and, more particularly, to a valve device for changing the destination of uid flow Without interruption of the ow during the change. The valve is characterized by having a single inlet and a plurality of alternative outlets with means for transferring the fluid efflux from an originally selected outlet to any alternative outlet without other substantial modification of the fluid ow due to such transfer.

One of the features of my valve is the construction of the valve casing and plug in such a manner that the valve seats in the direction of flow of the influx iluid instead of in opposition to the ow of the fluid as is characteristic of the prior art devices. The flow of. iluid through my valve, therefore, tends to seat rather than unseat the valve plug.

Another feature of my valve is the provision of means for controlling the flow of corrosive or sediment depositing fluids at high temperatures without the usual interference by such luids withl seating of the valve.

A further feature of my valve is the use of a cooling medium to prevent cracking and spalling of the packing material surrounding the valve plug, which packing usually becomes heated to high temperatures during the operation of the valve and which, in the absence of such cooling means, is susceptible to cracking and spalling.

A still further feature of my valve is its adaptation to an oil cracking system in which a portion of the refined oil passing through the system is utilized for effecting smooth and constant operation of the valve without interference by the high temperature crude dil which -passes directly through the valve.

The novel features of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, will be fully understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanylng drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a crosssection of my valve; t

Figure 2 is an end view of avvertical section of the valve taken along lines 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of a vertical section of the valve taken along line 3--3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a 'diagrammatic representation of an oil cracking unit in which my valve is used for occasioning directional flow of the oil.

The same reference numerals have been used in the several figures to identify like parts of the device.

Referring now to Figure 1 shown in the drawing, the valve comprises a plug I0 which has a cylindrical portion of comparatively small diameter and a conical seating portion of comparatively large diameter, the conical'portion being substantially shorter in length than the cylindrical portion.` The plug I0 partially projects into one end of a valve casing II and is adapted to move therein. A flange I2 is provided at the inlet end of the casing II for attaching the valve device to a conduit I3. The inlet endof the casing next to the flange I2 has an enlarged opening indicated at I 4 into which the conical end of the valve plug I0 partially projects, the diameter of the opening I4 being slightly larger than the largest diameter of the conical section of the plug I0. This opening I4 forms an inlet for the influx of vapors or liquid to the valve device.

The valve may be provided with any desired number of alternative outlets. In Figure 1, two such outlets are shown at I5 and I6. The invention, of course, is not to be limited in scope to any specic number of outlets.

The plug I0 has a bore at its inner end as indicated at I'l to provide for the directionally controlled passage of fluids through the valve device. In order to avoid undue turbulence resulting from the change of directional flow this bore is formed entirely of smooth curved surfaces which reduce the pressuredrop through the device to a minimum. The plug Ill may, if desired, enter the casing I I at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof, instead of parallel to this axis as shown in Figure l.

The cylindrical portion of the plug I0 is provided with a longitudinal bore I8 and a tubular conduit I9 for introducing a cooling fluid such as steam into the plug I0 during operation of the valve under high temperature conditions. An exhaust channel 20 is provided for the escape of the cooling medium introduced through conduit I9.

At the outer end of the plug I0 is mounted a self-contained turning mechanism which provides for movement of the plug I0 about its axis within the casing I I. 'I'his turning mechanism, some of the details of which are shown in Figure 2, comprises a gear quadrant 2| carried by the plug II) and held in place by the nut 66. Movement of the gear quadrant 2l and turning of the plug I0 thereby is occasioned by means of the hand wheel 22 operating through the medium of the spur gear 23 and the shaft 24. The shaft 24 rotates in the superstructure 21. which is, in turn, suppled byA the valve casing Il. The arc of the gear quadrant 2I will, of course, be determinedxby the number and location of the casing outlets.

, In order to facilitateturning of the plug IU upon its axis at :the time of eiecting a directional* change in tile uid flow when corrosive or coke-forming fluids heated to a high temperature are passing through the valve device, mreansareVY provided for projecting the plug I from its seat a slight amount prior to turning. 'Under some conditions the valve device isV operated at or nearly at red heat and consequently it is desirable to unseat the plug before turning it to avoid wearing or breaking of the seating surfaces. The means shown in Figure 1 for effecting unseating of the plug I0 comprise a collar and stud and nut i arrangement. The collar 28 is rotatably mounted around a recessed portion of the plug Ill as shown. Studs 29 extend through the collar 2E and are threaded into the valve casing il. Nuts 130 and 3l are provided on the sides of the collar 21B.

To effect longitudinal movement of the plug IU toward the opening Ill and thereby unseat the plug, the nuts 3i are first backed away from the collar 28 and then the nuts 30 rotated to press against the collar and drive the plug l0 forward. This longitudinal movement of the plug effects a slight separation between the plug and casing along the conical seating portien thereby making possible a free easy rotation of the plug I0, through the intermediary of the gear quadrant 2i s and wheel 22, as explained above, for changing the direction of outward flow of the uid entering the opening I4.

When the plug Ill has thus been sufliciently rotated to cause the bore I1 to coincide with the chosen outlet, it may be moved longitudinally in the reverse direction, i. e., toward the nut 69, to eiect a reseating of the plug along its conical seating section. Prior to such movement the nuts 30 are backed away from the collar 28, and the movement of the plug then effected by screwing the nuts 3I against the collar 28. As will be explained more in detail below this reseating of the plug I0 is not essentialwhen the novel cooling and leak preventing means of this invention are employed.

The means above referred to for effecting smooth and constant operaticn of the valve Without interference by the hot corrosive and cokeforming influx fluid which means are also used for cooling the packing material, preventing leakage of the hot influx fluid back along the cylindrical portion of the plug and for lubricating this cylindrical portion during turning thereof, are shown in Figures 1 and 3 and their adaptation to an oil cracking unit is illustrated in Figure 4. Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 3, the valve plug I0 is surrounded along a portionpf its cylindrical section by a compression ring which is held by nuts 33. This ring 32 serves to compress packing material 34 located around the plug Ill and between it and the casing I I; Located between sections of this packing material 34 are lantern rings 35 and 36. To the lantern ring 35 are connected an inlet conduit 31 and an outlet conduit 3E. To the lantern ring 36 is connected an outlet conduit 39.

The conduit 31 as explained more in detail hereinafter in connection with the description of Figure 4, introduces a cooling and lubricating medisuch as refined oil, onto and around the contact surfaces of the plug I0 and the valve casing n Y 2,122,560 bearings VV25 and Y26 which are supported by theE f II. This cooling medium may'have temperature, forexample, of- 60o-650?F. which although l relatively hlgh,. is cool in comparison with the main body of liquid; the direction -of ow of atively cool condition thereby preventing it from cracking and spalling. Seccndarily. this same portion of the cooling oil serves the purpose'of lubricating the stem of the plug I0 thereby providing free and easy rotation of the latter when the valve is being changed to select another outlet as explained hereinabove.

The portion of the cooling oil which flows, by leakage, toward the inlet end of the plug I@ serves the purpose of repelling that part of the hot influx fluid which tends to flow, by leakage, from the inlet back along the conical seating portion and eventually to the cylindrical portion of the plug Ill. If this hot cote-forming, and corrosive fluid is allowed to leak back along the path described it will cause corrosion of the metal surfaces, will deposit coky materials that cause i sticking of the valve, and will heat the packing material 3d beyond its temperature endurance thereby causing the latter to crack and break oi. All of these undesirable results are prevented, however, by means of the cooling cil that ows toward the inlet I4. This cooling oil is not corrosive, or coke-forming and is maintained under slightly higher pressure than the leakage portion of the hot influx fluid so that it prevents the latter from flowing back along the valve plug.

Some of the cooling oil introduced through the conduit 31 and lantern ring 35 flows continuously and practically directly around the stem of the plug IIJ and thence through the ring and outlet conduit 38. rI'his portion of the oil serves principally the purpose of maintaining the stem and surrounding packing material 34 `in a comparatively cool condition. A pressure gauge 40 ls provided in conduit 33 for indicating the pressnre of the cooling uid owingt-hrough the valve, which pressure is controlled by an arrangement of two valves as explained below in connection with Figure 4.

As suggested hereinbefc-re the cooling oil entering through the conduit 31 might also be used under sufficient pressure to permit the valve plug ID to remain at all times in a slightly unseated position, that is, with a slight separation between the conical surfaces of the plug I9 and casing This arrangement would facilitate operating the valve to eiect a directional change in the ow of influx fluid, since the above described unseating and reseating'operations of the valve plug would not be necessary. That is, the plug would be free to turn, at all times, without any longitudinal adjustments.

The adaptation of my valve to an oil cracking unit or system; and particularly the utilization of a portion of the refined oil in such a system for cooling and lubrication of the valve parts above is illustrated in Figure 4. Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, the valve illustrated diagrammatically at 4I is connected to the inlet conduit I3 and is provided with two alternative outlet conduits 42 and 43.l The operation of this oil cracking unit and particularly the use of my valve therein is, in brief, as follows: Crude oil to be treated is introduced through the inlet 44 into the distilling chamber or evaporator 45 where, by direct Contact with the vapors therein a substantial portion of the crude oil is vaporized and passes through conduit 46 into the fractionating column 41. The unvaporized residue in the evaporator 45 is pumped by .means of pump 48 into one or the other of conduits 42 and 43 depending upon the manipulation of valves '64 and 65 and thence into one or the other of coking drums 49 and 50 depending upon which one is in use. These coking drums are used alternately, one of them being emptied and cleaned while the other one is in use, without interfering with the continuous operation of the unit as a whole.

The gasoline and other light distillates which are separated out from the heavier oil in the fractionating column 41 pass out through the outlet pipe 63. The unvaporized residue in the fractionating column 41 is conducted through line I and thence through the pump 52 which pumps this oil through conduit 53 into the tubular heater 54 in which the oil is heated to a high temperature. The heated oil is conducted through inlet conduit I3 into the valve 4|. Depending upon the selection of the outlet port for this valve, the hot fluid passes either through the outlet conduit 42 into the coke drum 49 or alternatively through the-outlet pipe 43 into the coke drum 50'. Thedistilled portions of the oil in the drums 49 and 50 are passed through lines 55 and 55 respectively, and lalternately through valves 5l and 58 into the distilling chamber 45, from whence the undistilled and distilled oil passes to the other parts of the system in the manner described above.

Referring again to the refined oil passing through line 5I and pump 52, it is to be noted that the inlet conduit 3l' for the valve 4I is also connected to the pump 52. Now, by opening valve 59 clean oil from pump discharge line 53 is caused to flow through the inlet conduit 3l and through lantern ring 35 as described in connection with Figure V1. At the lantern ring 35, see Figure 1, a portion of this oil is diverted by leakage for the purposes above described, along the cylindrical portion of the plug I0 and out conduit 39 and also between the seating surfaces of plug I0 and valve casing I I to opening I4 where it combines with the mainstream of influx iluid. The oil not diverted as described flows out through conduit 38. Valve 60 is provided in conduit 38 for the purpose of adjusting the pressure of the cooling oil flowing through the valve 4I to the desired value. Closing valve 69 and opening valve 59 operates to increase this pressure and vice versa.

The outlet pipes 39 and 39 join at the point 6I and the oil flowing through this junction is fed back through line 62 into the line 5I and the above cycle repeated so as to maintain a continuous flow of cooling oil through the valve di.

It will be understood, of course, that the principal volume of the oil owing through the system shown in Figure 4 flows through the inlet I3 of the valve 4I and after passing through the valve it flows through one or the other of the two outlet conduits 42 and 43 into either the drum 49 or the drum 50 depending upon which one of the outlet ports of the valve has been selected. Only a small portion of the refined oil from the fractionating column 41 is utilized for cooling and for otherwise effecting eflcient operation of the valve in the manner described above.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific modifications described and illustrated herein but is susceptible to various changes that will occur to one skilled in the art. A number of the novel features of my invention are set forthin the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve adapted to effect directional changes in a flowing stream of hot oil at high temperature and pressure, comprising a valve casing, an inlet at one end thereof, a frusto-conical valve seat in said casing tapering from and communicating with said casing inlet, a frusto-conical valve plug in said seat adapted to turn therein and having the end of greater area directed toward said casing inlet whereby the hot oil normally tends to force the plug into said valve seat, said plug having a passage communicating at one end with said casing inlet and terminating at its other end in the frusto-conical wall of said plug, a plurality of spaced outlet passages circumferentially disposed around said valve seat for selective communication with the said other end of said valve plug passage, an elongated stem on the smaller end of the plug projecting outwardly through the casing, means cooperating with the stemv and casing to maintain the plug in spaced relation to the seat, packing in said casing surrounding said stem, means for delivering a relatively cool liquid to said stem and packing at a pressure in excess of the pressure of the hot oil in said casing inlet, and means for directing the cool liquid between the plug and its seat to form a lm of liquid flowing into the hot oil, whereby flow of hot oil between the plug and seat is prevented.

2. A valve adapted to effect directional changes in a flowing stream of hot oil at high temperature and pressure, comprising a valve casing, an inlet at one end thereof, a frusto-conical valve seat in said casing tapering from and communicating with said casing inlet, a frusta-conical valve plug in said seat adapted to turn therein and having the end of greater area directed toward said casing inlet whereby the hot oil normally tends to force the plug into said valve seat, said plug having a passage communicating at one end with said casing inlet and terminating at its other end in the frusto-conical wall of said plug, a plurality of spaced outlet passages circumferentially disposed around said valve seat for selective communication with the said other end of said valve plug passage, means cooperating with the plug and casing to maintain the plug in spaced relation to the seat, means for delivering a relatively cool liquid between said plug and its seat, and means for maintaining a pressure on said cool liquid in excess of the pressure of the hot oil in said inlet, whereby the cool liquid repels the flow of hot oil between said plug and its seat.

LUIS DE FLOREZ. 

